His principles

Uthman was a man of principles. He held fast to his principles through thick and thin. He refused to abdicate because such abdication was against his principles. When he was besieged and some persons devoted to him wanted to fight against the rebels he forbade them to take up arms in his defense, because as a matter of principle he did not want to involve his people in a civil war. When he was asked to escape from his house through the backdoor, he held that such a course was not in conformity with his dignity as the Caliph of the Muslims. When asked to go to Syria, he said that he could not leave the city of the Holy Prophet.